...In which our heroine is pure bliss.

We almost didn't go. I had gotten my dates mixed up and thought the premiere was next week. It started at seven and we didn't decide to go until six. But if we had arrived five minutes sooner or later, I wouldn't be writing this.

Tonight I spoke to, shook hands with, and swooned over JOHNNY DEPP at the world premiere of Public Enemies in Chicago. He touched me - he is magnificently gorgeous, exactly like in his his movies, only prettier - and I came a little. I don't think my heart has ever beat so fast. Great skin, perfectly greasy hair, nice pinstripe suit, rough hands covered with rings and tattoos. Johnny Depp is a real movie star, he just exudes sex and charm. 

Kristen, Emily, and I were across the street from the red carpet and couldn't see much when we first got there. I saw the side of Christian Bale's head, which was still hot. Then Depp's limo pulled up and we caught a glimpse as he exited. I thought that would be it, but no...

Johnny Depp, aside from being beautiful and a talented actor, will forever be on my cool list because he met, autographed, and spoke to a block and a half of fans when he didn't have to, at all. Christian Bale didn't even bother to wave to the fans. He signed for kids, old women, and everything in between. And, since he apparently doesn't watch his own films, left the screening early and met more fans. 

When he approached all I could think to say was "It's nice to meet you." And he shook my hand, looked me in the eye, and said "It's nice to meet you too." OMG. I'm sorry to be a fourteen year old, but for my money, Johnny Depp is the most handsome man on the planet, and he touched me. Then I melted, knees shaky, breathing heavily. 

Oh, and the cast is here until Saturday doing a press tour. And I scored passes to the screening tomorrow, so I'm optimistic I'll get to see someone show up there too. And I got a poster. I also saw the director, Michael Mann, William Petersen, and Dennis Farina. 

What a fucking awesome awesome awesome night. And for once, my phone camera worked well:

...In which our heroine reviews "Moon"

I'm getting spoiled by free movie passes. I've gone to four shows in the past three weeks and haven't paid for a one. Hopefully, I'll get Public Enemies passes this week too. Thanks, Ain't It Cool News!

But anyway, last night's film was Moon. I read some positive reviews so I was excited going in, as good sci-fi is few and far between these days. My reaction to the film however was a shrug of the shoulders afterwards. It isn't a bad movie by any stretch, but it isn't mind-blowing either. The visual aspect is really nice, very 2001 of course but dirtier, and the sets and spaces look really good considering the film only cost $5 million. That, I can appreciate and I can also appreciate that its the first directing effort from Duncan Jones (Zowie Bowie, wonder why he wanted to change his name).

Also really strong is Sam Rockwell's performance, who continues to show his wide range. This is the third film I've seen him in this year with a lead role, and he has been the best part of all three films, especially Snow Angels. He gets to REALLY own this film and be quite diverse, but anything more on that would be a spoiler. But I think he might get some kind of independent recognition for this role, and he deserves it.

So Moon is good, not great. I will give it props for being sci-fi more focused on mood than machinery (fuck off, Transformers) and making its budget go far. Maybe more of a rental than a theatre watch.

Otherwise...I have a job interview Thursday! It's only a two-week thing, but it's better than nothing at this point. I've caught up with Weeds - four seasons in two weeks, and the fifth better not be as lame as the fourth. It is great television though. Now that I'm caught up, I'm going to start hacking through the Netflix list. Only 83 movies, no problem. 

I'm seriously considering Lollapalooza. I'm going to Pitchfork's music festival, but it's just so tempting, despite the fact that the line-up is less than stellar as compared to the past two years. But it's across the street from me, literally, and the only thing I'd have to spend money on would be the ticket. Decisions, decisions...

...In which our heroine is a thief.

Lots of wonderful nuggets of pop culture from the past week:

-Trust might be my favorite movie that no one else has seen. It's not available on Region 1 DVD which is quite upsetting. But I love it, so it was really nice to see an article on The New Cult Canon about it. Highly recommend this film - it pops up on IFC from time to time and is an instant Netflix watch. 

-I knew the G.I. Joe movie looked bad, but apparently I didn't know just how bad...

-There's a movie coming out called Zombieland. Yes, please. Also, Chicago Zombie-Con is in 2 weeks, yay!

-I knew Megan Fox was too hot to be true.

-Oh Bret Michaels, karma is one mean bitch.

-The list of 15 Most Disturbing Movies Ever isn't too shocking, although I'd never heard of #1. I've seen 7 on the list and throughly agree. 

-I wish I was at Bonnaroo.

-Shutter Island looks to be quite the departure for Scorsese, but I'm excited. Make the spaces on the Oscar ballot now.

Back to Chicago tomorrow, but I had quite a lovely trip home. The city though...it calls to me. Solved a script problem, fifty pages down.

...In which our heroine spreads the word.

I saw The Hangover this weekend, and it further made me realize how damn funny Zach Galifianakis is. Ben introduced me to his awkward brand of comedy this winter and while it isn't for everyone, I really enjoy it. I'm sure that Galifianakis will blow up as The Hangover does more box office, I just hope he doesn't lose his style.

By the way, The Hangover is pretty decent for a summer comedy. Nothing serious, lots of laughs.

...In which our heroine has a final product.

I'm glad people besides myself can figure out technology. I spent a long time trying to figure out how to upload my final film into a watchable format, but failed. Luckily, my partner in crime on the project is smarter than I.

This is the final film I made for my Production I class. It was shot on 16mm black and white reversal film in a Bolex camera, and edited by hand, with a razor blade and tape. We used professional actors for the roles and my partner Haley did an awesome job with wardrobe and make-up. I directed, wrote, and did cinematography, while Haley did production design, make-up, and produced.

"Gordy's Last Laugh"

...In which our heroine has a new role model, kind of.

I love summer. I've been getting lost in all kinds of media consumption that I fell behind on during the year. 

Most recently, I've been getting addicted to Weeds. Why have I never watched this show before? It's so well-written, has really multi-dimensional characters, and most of all, is funny. Honestly, I thought the show might be kind of one note, same thing I feared with Pineapple Express. Neither of them are. Weeds is a perfect show Katydid show.

I especially love the depth in the main character, Nancy Botwin, played with equal parts grace and hysteria by Mary-Louise Parker. The dynamic of wanting to do what's best for your kids (and often failing) by becoming as Nancy puts it, "the suburban baroness of bud" is continually interesting. I'm on the second season now, and the twists keep me guessing. 

I understand now why Emily aspires to be Nancy. Kind of. Nancy's pretty awesome, but she's kind of skanky too. I would want to be her, for like a week. Oh and the supporting characters are really excellent to: Elizabeth Perkins as Nancy's bitch neighbor Celia, Kevin Nealon as her stoned accountant, and Justin Kirk as her freeloading, generally debauched brother-in-law.  

Weeds makes for good summer watching, nothing too heavy, but still complex and very entertaining.

Some other things:

-I'll be back in the 'Nati in 24 hours for a week or so.

-Still sans job.

-I watched about five minutes of the MTV Movie Awards. Why, I do not know, but I can say that Megan Fox seems like the iciest chick ever, my hatred of all things Twilight continues to grow, and Andy Samberg is not funny. 

-Pearl Jam's new album might be a Target exclusive. Seeing as my mother is a band-aid for them, this is quite the outrage. Way to sell out guys.

-Dear Paul Thomas Anderson: I finally watched your first film, Hard Eight. I'll just say I'm glad you became a much better filmmaker by Boogie Nights. 

-Tattoo this week, finally, with the BFFF. 

...In which our heroine is visited.

My muse has been hanging around lately. I must've done something to make her pay me a visit - maybe it's the weather or my music selections of late. But she's here, and she's happy.

So I've been writing. A lot. About 24 pages of a script since Thursday. 

I'm kind of reluctant to talk about my writing sometimes. For as long as I can remember, people have been telling me that it's good, and not to sound cocky, but it never has been a stress to write for me. It's always felt very natural, very easy.

It all just kind of pours out, in some form or another. I don't have any special creative tricks, or moods to be in, or music to listen to. I just write when I feel like it. Part of the reason I write this blog is because writing the most cathartic thing I've ever found. I can say things putting pen to paper (or hands to keyboard) that I could never say eloquently or honestly enough in real life. It helps me say the things I can't. 

I keep pretending like writing isn't my passion in life. I thought journalism for a while...but that wasn't quite right. So I thought - film school, cinematography. I like photography, it can't be that different right? WRONG. Cinematography sucks. I love the aesthetic, not the science.

So I've taken three writing classes since being at Columbia, two for my major, one as an elective. The elective ended up being a senior class full of fiction writing majors and for the first time I can remember, I wasn't the best writer in class. Which was awesome because I finally had something more to achieve. I held my own fair enough, ending up with some interesting writing about teenage life.

But my two film classes which focus on writing have proved to be very beneficial. After D&P, Susanna told me I "had the chops" to make it as a screenwriter. This semester, she had a conference to talk to my Screenwriting I teacher, Heather, to talk about me. Heather really liked my work too and told me to submit one of my scripts to practicum, which is the big senior project for the film department.

And still, I don't feel like a writer. It doesn't feel like work to me to write. It's catharsis, letting the demons and anecdotes and observations out of my head, where they like to accumulate. I let them out, and feel better about most things.

So I'm writing a script to because I have an idea that needed out.

Don't ask me what it's about. Here's what you get: comedy, kind of but in the touching/serious vein of Apatow. People from my real life are characters. The protagonist is ahem well known to me. It's a girl. 

I'll tell you more when I feel that the time is right. But I'm writing something longer than I ever have before, and the muse is happy, so I am too.